(James Woodcock/AP)HELENA, Montana (AP) -- An appellate court will conduct a judicial misconduct review of a federal judge who sent an email to friends that contained a racist joke involving bestiality and President Barack Obama's mother.

Judge Richard Cebull also plans to send Obama a formal apology, but that has not stopped calls for the judge's resignation.

"If he has any respect for his office and for ideals of equality and human dignity on which our country was founded, Judge Cebull will step down today," said Bob Edgar, the president and chief executive of Common Cause, a good governance advocate.

Common Cause filed a complaint Thursday against Cebull with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Cebull also asked for a review by the appellate court, effectively filing a complaint against himself.

The appellate court's judicial council will lead the investigation and "is expected to act expeditiously," court executive Cathy Catterson said in a statement.

Cebull's apology plans were confirmed by Jed Link, a spokesman for Congressman Denny Rehberg, who spoke by phone with Cebull.

"Judge Cebull apologized and Denny took his apology to be heartfelt and sincere. Judge Cebull also indicated that he is sending a formal apology to President Obama and that he is asking the 9th Circuit to review the matter," Link said.

Cebull on Wednesday admitted that he forwarded the email Feb. 20, but he told The Great Falls Tribune newspaper that he did so because he disliked Obama, not from racism.

Cebull told the newspaper that his brother sent him the email, and he passed it on to six "old buddies" and acquaintances. It began with the preface: "Normally I don't send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine."

Cebull told the Billings Gazette that he did not write that preface. He said that he has treated all people in his courtroom fairly and he has not heard any complaints otherwise.

"The only reason I can explain it to you is I am not a fan of our president, but this goes beyond not being a fan," Cebull told the Great Falls newspaper. "I didn't send it as racist, although that's what it is. I sent it out because it's anti-Obama."

Cebull did not return calls from The Associated Press.

The Montana Human Rights Network has started an online petition in its website calling for Cebull's resignation, writing "this behavior is simply not befitting of a judge."

The subject line of the email, which Cebull sent from his official courthouse email address reads: "A MOM'S MEMORY." The forwarded text reads as follows:

"Normally I don't send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine. "A little boy said to his mother; 'Mommy, how come I'm black and you're white?' His mother replied, 'Don't even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you're lucky you don't bark!'”

This is from the mind set of someone who makes life altering decisions from the bench

A judge must be impartial. He must not favor anyone. Just look what happened to this. He forgot to respect the president. At least he must respect the position that Obama is holding in this country. Obama is not just an ordinary person but he is the PRESIDENT.